Adjustable belt wheel-type continuous casting apparatus



May 9, 1967 T. L BRAY 3,318,357

ADJUSTABLE BELT WHEEL-TYPE CQNTINUOUS CASTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1966 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Tfiomas L. Brg

May 9, 1967 T. BRAY 3,313,367

ADJUSTABLE BELT WHEEL-TYPE CONTINUOUS CASTING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR' Thomas L. Bngf aw f ATTORNEYS 3,318,367 Patented May 9, 19 67 United States Patent Ofifice This invention relates to the casting of metal and more particularly, to the continuous casting of metal in-a mold defined by a peripheral groove in a casting wheel and an endless band which closes the groove.

Casting machines in which molten metal is continuously cast in a mold defined by a peripheral groove in a casting wheel and by an endless belt which engages the periphery of the casting wheel to close the groove are well known to those skilled in the art. It is also well known to those skilled in the art that it is essential to the casting of molten metal in a casting machine of this type that the band always be properly positioned on the periphery of the casting wheel in order to prevent molten metal from passing between the band and the casting wheel and solidifying as a fin on the cast metal which must be removed before the cast metal is subsequently worked.

In prior art casting machines, the proper positioning of the band on the casting wheel has frequently been achieved by providing the casting wheel with flanges between which the band is received. The difliculty with these flanges is thatthey interfere with the efiicient cooling of the band as it engages the periphery of the casting wheel and in turn, with the efficient cooling of the molten metal in the mold defined by thev casting wheel and the band.

When flanges have not been used in prior art casting machines to insure proper positioning of the band on the casting wheel, various band positioning devices have often been used to properly position the band on the casting wheel by changing the path of the band as the band passes to or from the casting wheel. However, these prior art band positioning devices have generally been complex in structure and operation, have frequently caused excessive twisting of the band, and have often caused the improper positioning or misalignment of the band at other locations in the casting machine while properly positioning the band on the casting wheel.

The invention disclosed herein avoids these difficulties encountered in prior art casting machines in that it provides a continuous casting machine in which the proper positioning of the band on the periphery of the casting wheel is achieved without the use of flanges on the casting wheel by a band positioning means which is relatively simple in structure and operation, which does not subject the band to excessive twisting, and which does not result in the improper positioning or misalignment of the band in other locations in the casting machine While properly positioning the band on the casting wheel.

This improvement in the continuous casting of metals is provided by a casting machine having a band positioning means which includes a band support wheel, linear motion means for moving the band support wheel along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel, and pivotal motion means for pivoting the axis of rotation of the band support wheel. The band support wheel and the casting wheel are arranged relative to each other so that the band passes from the casting wheel to the band support wheel during operation of the casting machine and the band is properly positioned on the casting wheel by moving the band support wheel with the linear motion means so as to adjust the path of the band as it leaves the casting wheel.

Positioning of the band on the casting wheel by motion of the band support wheel along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel avoids that excessive twisting of the band which has been common in the prior art. It also tends to properly position the band on the casting wheel without causing the improper positioning or misalignment of the band on the band support Wheel.

However, proper positioning of the band on the band support wheel is easily maintained by pivoting the axis of rotation of the band support wheel and that pivotal motion that may occasionally be required to maintain the band in proper position on the band support wheel is small relative to that which would be required if this motion were used to properly position the band on the casting wheel. Thus, this pivotal motion does not cause excessive twisting of the band. Moreover, the fact that only small pivotal motion is required serves to provide a band positioning means which is compact and relatively simple in structure and operation.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood upon consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the general arrangement of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the band positioning means in that embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose a specific embodiment of the invention. However, the invention is not limted to the embodiment disclosed since it may be embodied in other equivalent forms.

That embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is a conventional casting machine to the extent that it includes a casting wheel C and a band B which is held in position against the periphery of the casting wheel C by an entry wheel E, an idler wheel T, and a band support wheel 14. Thus, the general arrangement of the casting machine and its operation in the casting of metal will be understood by those skilled in the art from FIG. 1. It is because of this and because it is in the band positioning means A that the casting machine differs from prior art casting machines that only the band positioning means A is shown and described in detail herein.

In that embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the band positioning means A includes the band support wheel 14 and a supporting structure 10 which supports the band support wheel 14 adjacent the casting wheel C for rotational motion about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel C. The supporting structure 10 also provides for linear motion of the band support wheel 14 along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel C and for pivotal motion of the axis of rotation of the band support wheel 14.

The band supporting structure 10 comprises generally a support 11 positioned on the housing H of the casting machine and an alignment mechanism 12 which is supported by the support 11 and whcih, in turn rotatably mounts the band support wheel 14.

The alignment mechanism 12 comprises generally an outer sleeve 15 mounted on the support 11 and a movable inner sleeve 16; The inner sleeve 16 is slidably carried 7 within the outer sleeve 15 by a pair of annular bushings 18 otable motion of the axle 19 about a pivot point provided by the socket member 21. That end of the axle 19 extending within the inner sleeve 16 beyond the ball 20 has a plurality of bearing surfaces 22 which are engaged by the inner ends of a plurality of alignment studs 24. Each of the alignment studs 24 is threadably inserted through one of a plurality of holes through the inner sleeve 16 and extends outwardly through one of a plurality of slots 23 in the outer sleeve 15. The outer end of each align- .ment stud 24 has a wrench or crank engaging surface 25,

and the alignment studs 24 are arranged relative to each other so that their selective rotation and movement through the inner sleeve 16 moves that end of the axle 19 engaged by the alignment studs 24 and pivots the axle 19 within the socketmember 21. It will be understood that pivoting of the axle 19 also pivots the axis of rotation of the support wheel 14.

Closing that end of the inner sleeve 16 adjacent the alignment studs 24 is an end cap 26: The end cap 26 has a flanged groove 28 which rotatably receives the flanged inner end 31 of a shaft 30. A cover 29 closes that end of the outer sleeve 15 adjacent the end cap 26 and the shaft 30 threadably extends through a corresponding threaded hole in the cover 29 substantially along the centerline of the outer sleeve 15. The outer end of the shaft 30 has a wrench or crank engaging surface 37 and it will now be understood that rotation of the shaft 30 will cause linear motion of the inner sleeve 16 and of the band support Wheel 14 relative to the outer sleeve 14. The supporting structure is positioned relative to the casting wheel C so that this linear motion is along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel C.

Thus, .itwill be understood that the alignment mechanism 12 provides a linear motion means for moving the band support wheel 14 along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel C and a pivotal motion means for pivoting the axis of rotation of the band support wheel 14. The manner in which these two motions of band support wheel 14 provide for :proper positioning of'the band B on the casting wheel C of the casting machine will be understood when the operation of the invention is considered,

Operation When the band B is in a position on the periphery of the casting wheel C in which it does not properly close the casting groove (not shown) in the-periphery ofthe casting wheel C or when it is otherwise desired to change the position of the band B on the casting wheel C, the shaft 30 is rotated to move the band support wheel 14 in that direction along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel C in which it is desired to move the band B laterally across the peripheral surface of the casting wheel C. This, in turn, causes the path of the band B'as it leaves the casting wheel C to be pivoted in the direction of linear movement of the band support wheel 14 and with continued rotation of the castof the. band supportwheel 14 and that this, linear motion is along a line of motion substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the casting wheel C. As a result, the proper lateral positioning of the band B on the peripheral surface of the casting wheel is achieved with a minimum of twisting of the band B and in a manner which does not tend to cause the band B to move laterally on the surface of the band support wheel 14.

However, in the event that lateral movement of the band support wheel 14 does occur, the selective pivoting of the axis of rotation of the band support wheel 14 by selective rotation of the studs 24 causes lateral motion of the band B on the surface of the band support wheel 14 in conventional manner so as to properly position the band B on the band support wheel 14. This usually requires only small pivotal motion of the band support wheel 14. This motion of band B laterally on the surface of the band support wheel 14 resulting from pivoting the axis of rotation of the band support wheel 14 may occasionally require linear motion of the band support wheel 14 to maintain proper positioning of the band B on the casting wheel C and on the band support wheel 14.

It is because of this that the invention does not cause the excessive twisting of the band B characteristic of the prior art while at the same time providing proper positioning of the band B on the casting wheel C without a corresponding improper positioning of the band B on the band support wheel 14 and at other locations in the casting machine. It is also because of this and because pivotal motion of the axis of rotation of the band support wheel 14 is only occasionally required that the invention is relatively simple in structure and operation and eliminates the complicated structure and operation required for frequent pivotal motions of large amplitude which are characteristic of the prior art.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. In a casting machine having a mold formed by a peripheral groove in a casting wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation and by a band which engages the peri-phery of the casting wheel, a band supporting means for supporting said band adjacent said periphery of said casting Wheel so as to hold said band against said periphery of said casting wheel, said band supporting means including a support wheel rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel and positioned to receive said band on its peripheral surface, and linear motion means for moving said support wheel along a line of motion substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said casting wheel.

2. The casting machine of claim 1 including pivotal motion means for pivoting said axis of rotation of said band support wheel.

3. The casting machine of claim 2 wherein said pivotal motion means pivots said axis of rotation of said band support wheel about a point which is laterally displaced from said support wheel.

4. The casting machine of claim 2 wherein said linear motion means includes a laterally extending axle on which said band support wheel is fixedly positioned, an inner sleeve slidably movable within a fixedly positioned outer sleeve and having means for receiving said axle, and means for slidably moving said inner sleeve within said outer sleeve.

5. The casting machine of claim 4 including a ball fixedly positioned on said axle intermediate its ends, and wherein said means for reeciving said axle includes a socket member which engages said ball.

6. The casting machine of claim 5 wherein said pivotal motionmeans includes means for engaging and moving that end of said axle on the opposite side of said ball from said band support wheel.

7. The casting machine of claim 6 wherein said means for engaging and moving said axle is la plurality of studs totatably inserted through said inner sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,737 12/1926 Lane 2257.4 1,702,528

6 Firing 222 57.4 xix Hazelett 2257.4

Properzi 2257.4 Hazelett 22200.1 XR

Porterfield 2257.4

Scott 226-190 Dexter 226-192 XR J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

2 1929 Walters 22 57 4 10 R. SPENCER ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CASTING MACHINE HAVING A MOLD FORMED BY A PERIPHERAL GROOVE IN A CASTING WHEEL ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS OF ROTATION AND BY A BAND WHICH ENGAGES THE PERIPHERY OF THE CASTING WHEEL, A BAND SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BAND ADJACENT SAID PERIPHERY OF SAID CASTING WHEEL SO AS TO HOLD SAID BAND AGAINST SAID PERIPHERY OF SAID CASTING WHEEL, SAID BAND SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A SUPPORT WHEEL ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS OF ROTATION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CASTING WHEEL AND POSITIONED TO RECEIVE SAID BAND ON ITS PERIPHERAL SURFACE, AND LINEAR MOTION MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SUPPORT WHEEL ALONG A LINE OF MOTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CASTING WHEEL. 